Dementia, Dammit!

When someone you love has dementia, sooner or later the "aha" moment will strike and you'll realize they can no longer live independently. When that day comes, will you know who to call to help find the best community for them? In this episode of Dementia, Dammit!®, I visit with Ron Braun, Senior Care Advisor and Owner of Care Patrol Kansas City, and uncover what to consider, what options are available and best of all, that you don't have to do it alone.

When I had to sell my parent's home in a hurry to fund their care, I hit a roadblock: it was filled with stuff, and everything was in disarray due to their dementia. I needed more than a helping hand: I needed a pro. Hiring a professional downsizer who specialized in seniors proved to be a very smart move. She not only kept me focused: she kept me from being overwhelmed and reduced a months-long slog to a three-week exercise — and even coordinated the move. In this episode of Dementia, Dammit!®, we discuss how a downsizing professional can lessen the emotional drama and physical burden on you and your loved ones.

One thing I learned during my family's dementia experience is this: just about every friend has a dementia story, too. All unique. Yet eerily the same. I never saw dementia coming for my parents. And when it did, I turned to one of my best friends for support. I shared, she listened, and helped me through it. Then dementia came for her mom, whose symptoms were different from my mom's or dad's...but had some common threads. In this episode, my friend Katrina shares the details of her mom's unfolding Dementia, Dammit! story.

My parents’ mental and physical health spiraled undetected during the pandemic. It was dementia ... dammit! And the start of a heartbreaking and overwhelming journey for all of us. I learned a lot along the way, from how to cope to how to ask for help. This is how it all unfolded.